Columbus, OH - Buckeye Country Superfest
June 13th, 2026
Columbus, OH
Ohio Stadium
Preface: Originally we were going to miss this show due to our work schedules but with the postponement of the Hershey show we were able to swap things up and go here! We’d been to Buckeye Country Superfest previously so we had a fair idea of what we were in for but we were excited nonetheless!
Tyler Childers during ‘Universal Sound’
Show Notes: Absolutely amazing! Guaranteed top 3 show that we’ve attended! The crowd was electric and the fellas were jammin’ on another level. Our previous experience here was slightly lackluster in relation to the crowd so this change was well received; it seemed as if everyone in the venue had been waiting for Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps all day long. Usually festival crowds are hit or miss in terms of their knowledge of the songs being played but this whole venue seemingly knew every word.
We were in section 1A which is located right behind the super tall and large flag pole which blocks about 20% of the stage view. Sadly, that 20% is the dead center of the stage, at least from where we were in the section. In all honesty though this show and crowd were so great that we could have closed our eyes for the whole show and still had an amazing time!
This was Tyler’s first show back after having a new baby (congratulations!!!) and he was noticeably tired. This was highlighted during the band introductions. Which, for those who’ve never been to a Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps show is a staple of each show. During the introductions Tyler gives a not so short remark about each band member. This happens at every single show. Every single night. Always in the same order. Except on June 13th, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio (apparently). What started out normal quickly went array when Tyler missed introducing the ‘Blue Moon Boy’ Craig Burlettic. Later in the introductions Tyler circled back to include his old buddy and AGAIN slipped up in one of the funniest ways possible. Craig’s intro, as many others, includes their hometowns, places they’ve lived, and current residence. During this part Tyler called Craig the “Milton Kid” which is a combination of the introduction where Tyler later calls him the “Miami Kid”; as soon as Tyler approached the Miami part he gave up all hopes of saving the intro and simply yelled “IT’S CRAIG BURLETIC.” This was a humorous bit of the show where the tiredness shined through as well as the happiness to be on stage with friends.
Regardless of being tired that didn’t stop him from putting on a show that we’ll never forget. Donning what most new fathers do, sweatpants, Tyler and the boys jammed for an hour and 45 minutes filling the setlist with similar songs as other shows on this tour thus far. Purgatory made its way back to the setlist after its one show hiatus and we saw Follow You to Virgie and Nose on the Grindstone go by the wayside as the only acoustic song played was Lady May to cap off the night. Tyler was noticeably emotional during Lady May as to be expected given the circumstances. It was the ultimate ending to an already wonderful night. Lady May is self-proclaimed as Tyler’s favorite song he’s ever written and this was a very special time to have witnessed him singing it.
As the show went on you could see that Tyler was shining with pride of being a father for the second time and before All Your’n you could see and hear him becoming emotional about his wife and kids being back at home. You could feel throughout the show that this was the boost he needed to come out and put on a show for the ages. The rest of the boys where just as motivated it seemed as it was hands down the loudest time we’d ever seen them. The show for the ages wasn’t just limited to Tyler, the entire Food Stamps rhythm section was beating their instruments like rarely seen. Ohio Stadium was seemingly built for Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps as their sound filled the Shoe all night long.
Kory Caudill crushing the keys during ‘Getting to the Bottom’
Venue Notes: Ohio Stadium is oft called ‘the Shoe’ because of its design, shockingly shaped like….well, a horseshoe. Ohio Stadium is considered amongst the Meccas of college football due to its size which hosts over 100,000 people regularly. This night in June was no different.
The venue is dated in terms of its seating and design inside its walls but what it lacks there it makes up for in uniqueness elsewhere. The introduction and entrance can be described no better than the feeling of walking into an ancient Colosseum. Concrete reaches heights that most would think impossible, held within the concrete are stained glass Ohio State windows, and the concourse is tight and narrow. It truly gives you a feel like you’re about to witness something magical each time you reach the precipice of the seating entrance.
Once you’re inside the seating area you’re surrounded by high reaching seats which seemingly never end. We were in row 35 of the lower bowl which wasn’t even the top row in the lower level. Above us were suites and then an even higher second level of seating.
Holding 100,000 does comes with its downfalls though and that was certainly the wait times for bathrooms and concessions. You have to be mindful of this and either be ready to wait a long time or be prepared to miss part of the show to get in line while it’s shorter.
All in all Ohio Stadium is somewhere we’d recommend every one going at least once even if it’s not to see Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps.
Parking Notes: We lucked out, for sure! Turns out when you hit an hour long traffic jam in the middle of nowhere Virginia and then couple that with eating at the slowest restaurant in Ohio you arrive miserably late to the concert!
But, have no fear, showing up late meant we parked about a half mile away for FREE! In an insane turn of events we walked in the door, used the restroom, got a friendship bracelet from another fan, and got to our seats as soon as the boys hit the stage. Then on the way back we realized we’d parked in a lot where ride share was being picked up aka the quickest exit!
What would have normally cost $65 we ended up with for free. We’re not suggesting this method as you literally bite off all your fingernails thinking you’ll miss the show and you risk having your car towed but it was successful for us luckily.
Prior to the event we looked at pre-paid parking and in hindsight we highly suggest doing that. There’s spots sold by Ohio State University which are within 3/4th of a mile for $50, half a mile for $65, and even closer for $80.
We like getting our steps in and the further lots offer an easier exit so for anyone who’s similar we’d say that the $50 lots are just fine. However, the last time we went to this event the parking at the closest lot only cost us $50 so we sprung for that and it was well worth it. The closeness ensures you’re not missing anything and while the exit does take much longer it isn’t so much so that it should discourage you from parking close.
All in all we actually find parking here to be some of the best you’ll come across and even more importantly there’s police directing traffic when you leave so the exit is nowhere near as long as we’ve seen for much smaller venues. For us this parking is all about you and what you’re comfortable walking and spending.
Travel Notes: Per usual we made this trip from North Carolina. We’ve done nearly this exact route 100 times because Daniel has family that lives in Ohio who we visit quite a bit.
The highlights are always Rowdy’s Smokehouse in Jackson, Ohio (which we ended up not being able to stop at this time). Rowdy’s has hands down, not even close, the best steak you can find in Southern Ohio (and in our opinion on the east coast). Rowdy’s also host concerts throughout the year and we’re not sure if they’re just really good at finding great musicians or if they’re just the stomping grounds for them but Rowdy’s is notorious for hosting up-and-comers before most people know their names. Notably people like Senora May, Arlo McKinley, Jeremy Short, and John R. Miller, to name a few. If you’re in Jackson, OH do yourself the favor of arriving hungry and ready to eat at Rowdy’s Smokehouse.
Just about 30 miles north from Jackson is Chillicothe which was the original capitol of Ohio and famous for their rather large papermill (you can hear more about it in ‘Country Squire’). We stopped by the papermill on the way back to our hotel and snapped some photos we’ll throw on the photos page.
Going back south out of Jackson by about 40 miles is Point Pleasant, WV which is home to the Mothman Museum. The Mothman was said to have been seen in this town for a short period during the last 60’s and is linked to a bridge collapse which killed 46 people. Admission to the museum is only $4.99 for adults and $1.99 for kids 10 and under. Do yourself the favor and swing by if you’re in the area. It’s the best $5 you can spend in Point Pleasant, WV.